Job summary
- Main area
- .
- Grade
- NHS AfC: Band 5
- Contract
- Permanent
- Hours
- Full time - 37.5 hours per week (37.5 hours per week over 4 evening/night shifts, hours to be discussed)
- Job ref
- 374-CG2226
- Employer
- East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
- Employer type
- NHS
- Site
- Eastbourne DGH
- Town
- Eastbourne
- Salary
- £32,073 - £39,043 per annum, pro rata
- Salary period
- Yearly
- Closing
- 22/06/2026 23:59
Employer heading
HSDU Evening and Night Shift Lead
NHS AfC: Band 5
We are proud to provide ‘Outstanding’ care and be a great place to work.
East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust provides safe, compassionate and high quality hospital and community care to the half a million people living in East Sussex and those who visit our local area.
We are one of the largest organisations in East Sussex with an annual income of £700 million and we are the only integrated provider of acute and community care in Sussex.
Our extensive health services are provided by over 8,000+ dedicated members of staff working from two acute hospitals in Hastings and Eastbourne, three community hospitals in Bexhill, Rye and Uckfield, over 100 community sites across East Sussex, and in people’s own homes.
The Care Quality Commission (CQC) rated us as ‘Good’ overall, and ‘Outstanding’ for being Caring and Effective. The Conquest Hospital in Hastings and our Community Services were rated ‘Outstanding’ and Eastbourne DGH was rated ‘Good’ Our two acute hospitals have Emergency Departments and provide 24 hour a day care, offering a comprehensive range of surgical, medical, outpatient and maternity services, supported by a full range of diagnostic and therapy services.
Job overview
We have an exciting opportunity for a motivated and experienced individual to join our Hospital Sterilisation and Decontamination Unit (HSDU) as an Evening & Night Shift Lead.
This is a key leadership role where you will manage and coordinate the evening and night shift operations, ensuring the safe, effective and timely decontamination of reusable medical devices. You will act as the senior point of contact on shift, supporting staff, maintaining workflow, and ensuring continuity of service.
We are looking for someone who has experience working in HSDU / sterile services (minimum 3 years, has supervisory or management experience including leading teams, possesses strong organisational and leadership skills, has knowledge of decontamination processes and equipment , can work effectively under pressure and prioritise competing demands, communicates confidently building strong working relationships, and demonstrates a commitment to quality, safety and continuous improvement.
What we offer
- A supportive team environment within a critical patient safety service
- The chance to lead and shape service delivery within HSDU
- Opportunities for professional development and training
Main duties of the job
- Lead and manage the HSDU team during evening and night shifts
- Allocate workloads and ensure production targets and priorities are met
- Ensure all decontamination and sterilisation processes comply with standards and procedures
- Act as the first point of contact for operational issues, escalating where appropriate
- Support and develop staff through supervision, training and mentoring
- Maintain accurate documentation, tracking and traceability of equipment
- Monitor staffing levels, performance and attendance
- Contribute to audits, quality improvement initiatives, and compliance with HTM/ISO standards
- Work collaboratively with clinical teams and service managers to maintain service delivery
Working for our organisation
A wide range of staff benefits are available to our staff including staff development, enrolment in the NHS pension scheme, auto-enrolment to our Temporary Workforce Service, access to onsite nurseries. staff restaurants and accommodation.
In addition to an internal Occupational Health department, all staff also have access to free psychological support through our confidential Employee Assistance Programme. Onsite parking is available from only £50 a year.
There has never been a better time to join East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, submit your application today.
Statement on the Use of AI
We value the individuality that each candidate brings to the application process. While we understand that AI tools are widely available, we strongly discourage applicants from using AI-generated content when applying for jobs with us. We believe that your application should reflect your true skills, experiences, and motivations, which are best conveyed through your own words and unique perspective.
Using AI for your application may not accurately represent your knowledge, skills, and experience and may result in a disconnect between your qualifications and our assessment of your application.
We encourage applicants to take the time to thoughtfully complete their applications; by doing so, you allow us to better understand your true potential and ensure a fair and transparent evaluation of your application. Over reliance on AI-generated content may diminish your chance of success.
Detailed job description and main responsibilities
Please refer to the job description attached.
If you have any questions about this position please do not hesitate to contact us.
Person specification
Qualifications
Essential criteria
- Educated to GCSE or equivalent level, with grades A to C or equivalent including English and Maths.
- Apprenticeship in decontamination science / Level 3 B -Tec qualification / Technical certificate (IDSC) (or willing to obtain)
- Completed departmental training and assessments to qualified level.
- Qualification in team leadership or first line management or equivalent experience
Desirable criteria
- Diploma in decontamination science.
Experience
Essential criteria
- Minimum of 3 years’ experience working within a HSDU or sterile services environment.
- Experience in the use and monitoring of decontamination and sterilisation equipment.
- Significant supervisory or management experience including day to day line management and performance monitoring.
Desirable criteria
- Experience working within the operational aspects of a quality management system.
- Experience of the decontamination standards including HTM01-01 and 01-06
Skills/Knowledge/Abilities
Essential criteria
- Significant people management skills and ability to organise self and others.
- In depth knowledge of decontamination processes.
- Ability to communicate clearly and effectively in order to engage and motivate teams
- Knowledge of health and safety requirements associated with the HSDU
- IT literate, keyboard skills, inputting and retrieving data and use of Microsoft Office.
- Knowledge of and ability to implement Trust policies and HSDU procedures
- Demonstrate a commitment to continuing development and a willingness to learn.
- Familiarity with Data Protection Act.
- Customer service skills.
- Evidence of problem solving & decision making with ability to manage multiple priorities effectively.
- Good knowledge of medical devices and surgical equipment.
- Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
Other
Essential criteria
- Reliable work record
- DBS clearance
- Evidence that personal behaviour reflects Trust Values
- Ability to meet the physical demands of the role
Employer certification / accreditation badges
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Applicant requirements
This post will require a submission for Disclosure to be made to check for any unspent criminal convictions.
Application numbers
Documents to download
Further details / informal visits contact
- Name
- Emma Milton-Shields
- Job title
- HSDU Administration Assistant
- Email address
- [email protected]
- Telephone number
- 0300 131 5590
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